Illustrator and writer Meera Lee Patel describes why she began painting soon after she began working a day job:
"I started painting as a way to find myself, as a way to remind myself of who I was when I was a little bit happier. Who I was when I was making things. When I started painting, I felt so connected to myself and felt connect to other living things, just by being somebody who was making something from nothing and putting it out in the world. I decided that is what I wanted to do."
In my latest podcast interview, Meera and I dig into her journey as an artist, and how she made a profound creative shift to become a full-time artist and writer. You can listen to the full interview above or here on iTunes.
Her latest book, My Friend Fear, is an amazing work that turns fear into something beautiful.
In our discussion we cover some deeply important topics for any artist or writer:
- The specific ways that her parents and her high school gave her permission to create, even as they also instilled a clear sense of responsibility.
- How she devoted 40 hours per week to her craft, on top of her 40 hour per week day job. When I asked how she approached painting on the side, her answer was immediate: ""Aggressively. Super aggressively. I did not care about anything else. I worked all the time."
- She describes how she found clarity and focus, and the specific steps she took to invest in her craft, earn money for it, and try new things.
- When success seemed distant and she considered giving up, this is how she stayed on track: "I always thought, 'have I exhausted every possibility?' There was always something I hadn't tried. That meant there was always the possibility for me to try, so I always took that possibility, even when I didn't want to."
- We discuss the importance of money to artists and writers. How she frames it: "Its really important to have a sustainable business so you can have the luxury and the freedom to not have to compromise your art."
- How she found success not through a big break, but many small moments of success: "I will say that nothing has 'taken off.' I have had small moments, but my whole trajectory has been very slow, very steady and very incremental. A lot of slow growth. That is frustrating as the person who is in it. It's probably frustrating for listeners because nobody wants to hear that. But it is dependable to know that you can always take a tiny step forward each day each week and eventually you will be somewhere new because you took all of those small steps."
- How social media is both a wonderful gift, but also an incredible challenge. She describes how, the more successful she becomes, the more complex her relationship to social media is because there are so many expectations placed upon her. How she navigates it: "Social media is responsible for making me that accessible to the world. I'm realizing that I'm going to have to have the limits and boundaries if I'm going to keep making the work."
- When I asked her if she deals with comparisonitis, she replied, "It is an absolute daily struggle... You have to push it aside and make the work you want to make."
- She talks about the turning point for no longer ruling her life by fear. She says: "Being scared is not a good enough reason to do things."
You can find Meera in the following places:
Her books:
- My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown
- Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration
- Made Out of Stars: A Journal for Self-Realization
As well as:
Her Etsy shop.
Her website: https://www.meeralee.com
Instagram: @merelymeeralee
Twitter: @meeralee
Facebook
You can find Dan Blank at:
http://wegrowmedia.com
Be the Gateway: http://a.co/evyrsjw
https://www.instagram.com/DanBlank/
https://twitter.com/danblank
Today I speak with writer Jocelyn K. Glei about how digital media and technology has created a crisis for many writers and artists. Their days are spent running on the treadmill of digital and social media, chained to their computers and phones, and increasingly unable to break away in order to complete bigger creative projects.
We dig into the neuroscience behind why this is, and she shares a wide range of strategies and tactics to take back your attention.
You can find Jocelyn in the following places:
http://jkglei.com
Hurry Slowy podcast: http://hurryslowly.co/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkglei
Her books:
You can find Dan Blank at:
http://wegrowmedia.com
Be the Gateway: http://a.co/evyrsjw
https://www.instagram.com/DanBlank/
https://twitter.com/danblank
In this podcast, I chat with Brooklyn-based artist and designer, Kelli Anderson. We dig into
- The value of stubbornness in the creative process
- How her career path had her quit a safe full-time job for a part-time job that allowed her to do creative side-project with the rest of her time
- The importance of collaboration in developing your craft and developing an audience
- The power of communication: when you are 100% clear on what you love and you let people know, it empowers them to help you get it
- How she gained her social media following of 60,000 followers from sharing innovative projects like a paper record player
- Why she is so enamored by analog, lo-fi, and mechanical things
- How she has constructed her life around this: artistic growth is not always about financial growth
- The importance of keeping a sketchbook
You can find Kelli in the following places:
https://www.instagram.com/kellianderson/
You can find Dan Blank at:
http://wegrowmedia.com
Be the Gateway: http://a.co/evyrsjw
https://www.instagram.com/DanBlank/
https://twitter.com/danblank
Today I'm excited to share my interview with author and publishing expert Jane Friedman. In our discussion, we dig into the nuts and bolts on how to earn a living as a writer.
We frame the conversation around her new book, The Business of Being a Writer, which shatters romantic assumptions around publishing, but then arms you with practical advice on how to develop your career.
We dig into:
- The dream that writers have and how it matches to reality.
- The business side of what it is like working with agents and publishers.
- How agents and publishers earn money (and how much they earn)
- Why great work simply rise to the top.
- The effort it takes to market a book and reach readers.
- The importance to get outside of your comfort zone to ensure your book finds its audience.
- ...and so much more!
We also explore Jane's own career path. Okay, perhaps my favorite quote from our discussion is how she expressed the challenge of selling a book in the age of distraction:
"It's so easy to not read a book"
Click 'play' above to listen to our conversation, or find the podcast on iTunes.
You can find Janes book here: The Business of Being a Writer
You can find her online in the following places:
https://www.janefriedman.com
https://twitter.com/janefriedman
https://www.facebook.com/jane.friedman
In my latest podcast, I interview psychologist Ellen Hendriksen, who helps millions calm their anxiety and be their authentic selves. In our chat, we dig into topics that writers and artists constantly struggle with, including:
- Impostors Syndrome
- Permission
- Comparison to others
- Seeking validation
- Sharing your work publicly
- Collaboration
- Entrepreneurship
We talk about her new book, How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety, which Susan Cain calls "a groundbreaking roadmap to finally being your true, authentic self."
About Ellen: Ellen Hendriksen is a clinical psychologist who helps millions calm their anxiety and be their authentic selves through her award-winning Savvy Psychologist podcast, which has been downloaded over 5 million times, and in her clinic at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CARD). Her scientifically-based, zero-judgment approach is regularly featured in Psychology Today, Scientific American, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Quiet Revolution, and many other media outlets.
You can find Dan Blank at:
http://wegrowmedia.com
Be the Gateway: http://a.co/evyrsjw
https://www.instagram.com/DanBlank/
https://twitter.com/danblank
In this podcast episode, I talk to illustrator Will Terry. We dig deep into how he went from freelance gigs as an illustrator to developing a sustainable career with multiple revenue streams.
Will illustrates children's books, sells his art at conventions, and is the co-founder of an online art school called The School of Visual Storytelling.
In our chat, he share specifics about how he got his first jobs in illustration, and how he developed his network with other professionals, even though he worked alone from home. His story reminded me of what I hear from so many successful artists and writers: even though he is an introvert, he has spent years developing collaborations and sharing his work in public.
Will opens up about the downs of his career too. He recalled a time when his financial situation looked so bad that he thought, "All of this financial mess will go away when I die."
What was most astounding from this story was how he turned down financial help from a relative when he desperately needed the money. He concluded that all of his later success came from that single decision to dig his way out on his own. He says,
"If I had taken that money, I don't think I would be doing the things I'm doing today. Today my life feels so much better and happier, almost zero stress."
Will share such practical advice, including how he grew his business. He talks about how he got more work, with a pretty incredible insight: "You actually have to ask for it." He assume that if he turned in freelance work to a client, that they would reach out to him if they wanted more work. It turns out, they were ready to hire him again, but were waiting for him to tell them. You have to ask.
You can find will at the following places:
http://willterry.comhttps://www.svslearn.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA-iu9bp3mT9JgsUGCFIzZAhttps://www.instagram.com/willterryart/
https://twitter.com/willterry333
You can find Dan Blank at:
http://wegrowmedia.com
Be the Gateway: http://a.co/evyrsjw
https://www.instagram.com/DanBlank/
https://twitter.com/danblank
On January 29th, artist Marc Johns saw this on social media: Drew Barrymore shared a photo of her daughter wearing a jacket that had Marc's art on it.
Amazing right? This is the type of thing that many artists dream about: a celebrity sharing their work with 8 million followers. But there was a problem. The jacket was not an officially licensed product. The company who made it stole Marc's art. Drew didn't know this.
I sat down and talked to Marc about this, and he shared an extremely honest account of what happened, and what he did about it. He doesn't hold anything back, and shares how this made him consider giving up art entirely.
Luckily, this particular story has a happy ending, but I know that isn't the case for many artists. Marc and I also talk about the complexity that all creators face when dealing with art, money, and piracy.
You can find Marc in the following places: https://www.marcjohns.com/ https://www.instagram.com/marcjohnsart/ https://twitter.com/marcjohns https://www.facebook.com/marcjohnsart
You can find Dan Blank at:
http://wegrowmedia.com
Be the Gateway: http://a.co/evyrsjw
https://www.instagram.com/DanBlank/
https://twitter.com/danblank
Today I speak with Srini Rao, who is the host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative podcast, and the author of Unmistakable: Why Only Is Better Than Best.
In this chat we discuss how to find more time to do the creative work that you love.
You can find Srini at:
https://unmistakablecreative.com
His book: http://a.co/9ul7Gib
https://twitter.com/UnmistakableCEO
You can find Dan Blank at:
http://wegrowmedia.com
Be the Gateway: http://a.co/evyrsjw
https://www.instagram.com/DanBlank/
https://twitter.com/danblank
How do you navigate creative burnout? That is something that illustrator/author Rebecca Green has been working through.
Her work is incredible, but a couple months ago, she shared this with her 225,000 Instagram followers:
"I have to be honest, my well is empty. Bone dry. It’s been a rough last six months and recently, strange as it sounds, when I show up to my drawing table, I have an immense urge to weep, sing, or run. Anything but make art."
"This is of course, extremely difficult when you make art for a living, so I suppress those feelings and keep pushing and showing up and am happy to do so."
"I am though, experiencing a major burn out that’s unlike anything I’ve ever gone through. Work has always ebbed and flowed with periods of intense creativity and moments of resentment, but this time feels a little too deep. I find myself unmotivated, lost, and not sure who I am, what I make or why any of it matters."
When someone looks at Becca's body of work and accomplishments from the outside, it is tempting to feel that her success makes her fortunate and that it makes creating easier.
It doesn't.
The line from above that rings in my head the most is this one:
"I find myself unmotivated, lost, and not sure who I am, what I make or why any of it matters."
When I read this, I emailed her and asked if she would be open to coming on my podcast and talking about the topic of creative burnout, and dig into her journey as an artist.
To my great delight -- she said yes!
What Becca shares in this interview is relevant to someone working in any creative field.
You can find Becca in the following places:
I sat down with book coach Jennie Nash to run a Q&A session with writers. Jennie has many super powers, and on this call we discussed aspects of how to write a better book, how to manage your creative time, and the connection between audience engagement and writing.
Jennie gives brutally honest answers about what it takes to improve your craft and reach readers, and gives practical examples of what that looks like.
You can find Jennie at:
JennieNash.com
AuthorAccelerator.com
Twitter.com/JennieNash
And you can find Dan Blank at:
WeGrowMedia.com
Be the Gateway on Amazon.com
Instagram.com/DanBlank
Twitter.com/DanBlank
Often, writers and artists talk about how to get better at their craft, publish their work, and engage an audience. They look for tricks and trends and shortcuts and "best practices."
Yet, in working with creative professionals over the years, I have found that there is a topic which can undermine all of their other efforts: neglecting their health. Not just physical health, but mental health, including stress, anxiety, loneliness, and sleep.
Today's guest, author Joanna Penn, is here to talk about her new book, The Heathy Writer, which she co-wrote with Dr. Euan Lawson. In our chat, we dig deep into ways that writers can improve their health, and Joanna is incredibly honest in sharing her own story.
You can find The Healthy Writer here:
https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Writer-Reduce-Improve-Writing/dp/1912105810/
And Joanna here:
This podcast episode digs into why I feel you should join or create a mastermind group, and my tips on how to get the most value out of it.
I review different types of mastermind groups, how they can help you find more success as a creative professional, and best practices for collaborating with others.
I also dig into the specifics of how I run my own mastermind group, which is now open for enrollment. They begin on January 1, 2018. I have three, one for each topic:
- Craft Your Creative Roadmap
- Build Your Creative Power Habits
- Find Your First 10 Super Fans
Register here: http://wegrowmedia.com/mm/
If you wondered about the reality of what it takes to find true success with your craft, I beg of you to listen to my interview with children's book author Stacy McAnulty.
She published 6 books this year, and 6 books in 2016. The road to that success? Dramatically longer and more involved that even I had ever considered.
Her journey (and our interview) began with her saying “I gave myself permission" to write. This was more than 15 years ago, when she wrote her first book one handed, without punctuation or capitalization, because she wrote while her first child while she wrote.
Our interview ends with these words:
“I am still rejected all the time. It never stops being a part of the job. Rejections expand. Now I get rejected from conferences, schools, bookstore visits. There is a lot more rejection that Woo-hoo! moments. But you have to ask, and you have to try.”
The story in between that start and that ending is just astounding. Listen to it here.
You can find Stacy at http://www.stacymcanulty.com.
Today I interview guitarist, producer, and founder of Windham Hill Records, Will Ackerman. You likely haven't heard of him, but he looms large in my life. This is why:
- He is a guitarist who has recorded GORGEOUS music. I've spent hundreds of hours listening to his albums.
- He founded a music label, Windham Hill Records, that released hundreds of albums of beautiful music, often instrumentals.
- He pretty much discovered George Winston, the A-MAZ-ING pianist. And Michael Hedges. And so many others. I mean, without Will, the world would truly have missed out on some of the most beautiful music ever recorded.
That is the "what" of Will Ackerman. But the "How" is what fascinates me. How on earth did he do this? In my hourlong interview with Will, I was kind of blown away by his message. When I asked him how he went from being a guitarist to earning tens of millions of dollars a year through his record label, he said:
"If you begin something that is inspired entirely by heart. And you are not chasing something that is indicated in the current market to be viable. And because of the love of it, You are willing to do something whether it has economic potential or not. That it is something you love. And in so doing, you end up being a unique thing, that happens to hit the world between the eyes."
Can you imagine this? Not following trends, not constatnly checking social media, not worrying about gaining followers, but instead: following your heart. Focusing on your craft. Becoming MORE LIKE YOURSELF, and less like others.
You can find Will at http://williamackerman.com
In today's conversation, I speak with artist Marc Johns about how he manages distraction, and how he has forged a career as an artist that supports his entire family.
We went deep into the reality of how he developed his career, made the transition to becoming an artist, and how he manages and markets his work on a day-to-day basis.
You can find Marc at:
https://www.instagram.com/marcjohnsart/
In this week's episode, I explore the essential elements for making a creative shift in your life. What is a creative shift? It is doubling down on not just dreaming about your creative work, but actually doing it.
In the podcast, I mention my next mastermind session, which you can learn more about at: http://wegrowmedia.com/cs
Today I am speaking with actor Jason Liles.
If you are thinking, "Dan, I'm a writer, what do I care about this actor friend of yours?" I encourage you to listen to what Jason shares. This is not only a wonderful story of success, but he shares specific tactics that I think every writer and creative professional NEEDS to use if they hope to find success. Here are some highlights:
- How he got one of his biggest roles via cold calling: “I got Death Note by calling a [creature] shop that someone recommended. They said they were too busy, call back in a couple months. Then the next week, on a Saturday, they called and asked what my availability was for the next four months, and if I could come in Monday morning. They had no idea who I was the week before. I said I was definitely free, because I was working at Outback Steakhouse full time when this happened. I had no idea [that Death Note] was going on when I stopped by.”
- He dealt with anxiety and panic attacks in middle school, high school and college. He actually had to leave college because of the the anxiety. Seeing how his entire line of work is about performing in front of an audience, this was astounding to me.
- How a director of theater program at a big school told Jason flat out, “You are too tall for film. Forget about it.” How did he move ahead after such bad advice? He went to Broadway shows, waited outside the stage door and ask world famous actors such as Jame Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, Jeff Daniels, and others: “Am I too tall for film?” Every one of them said, “Not at all. Just do it.” As it turns out, Jason’s height is a primary factor that is getting him so many of his roles.
- How he is able to spot and approach famous actors on the street and ask them for advice. An example, “Bryan Cranston talked for about 20 minutes giving me advice when I bumped into him in Central Park with his wife, because he knew I was a young actor.” He has done this with Michael Fassbender, Daniel Day Lewis, and others as well. To me, this was a reminder to use the opportunities that are all around you. Jason didn’t have any special access, and he didn’t let himself be constrained by perceived “rules” that you can’t approach people and ask them a question.
- His first job was as a stand-in. Later on this, same company got him his his spot in Men in Black III as well as his first commercial. I can imagine Jason saying “no” to a stand-in role because it is too small. But if he had, he never would have gotten Men in Black III, never would have established his relationships with people who were critical to future roles in his career.
- Why he says that more people need to get involved in the business side of their creative profession. How, in his field, you can be an amazing actor who never gets work, because you never learn about how to make the right connections. Or vice versa, you can be a mediocre actor who always gets work because you understand how the business operates.
- How he developed relationships in the film industry with this strategy: “I would do anything to get experience: student films, non-paying plays — anything.”
- The thing that made all the difference for him: “The biggest thing that I did was to get to know people in the creature shops. Sometimes, the creature shops would be responsible for identifying the actor to play specific roles. Getting to know them, I can bypass producers, casting directors, and others. I learned who all the shops are, and keep in touch with them.”
Thank you to Jason for taking the time to share your story and advice. You can find Jason in the following places:
Thanks!
-Dan
Today I want to recommend that you become completely obsessed with Dani Shapiro's work. Why? Because she talks about the emotional side of the creative process in a way that I think every writer and artist needs to hear.
Dani Shapiro is the bestselling author of the memoirs Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage, Still Writing, Devotion, and Slow Motion, and five novels including Black & White and Family History. Dani was recently Oprah Winfrey’s guest on”Super Soul Sunday.”
In the conversation, we dig into so much, including:
- It is difficult for many people to give themselves permission to be called a “writer.”
- How many writers can feel held captive by their own “inner censor,” which keeps shifting, morphing, and changing as your career progresses.
- How she engages with others in-person and online, even though she is an introvert.
- How she has been “practicing the word “no.” And not attaching the word “sorry” to it. I’m learning about what it means to set a boundary.”
- Why she encourages writers to find a “rhythm and ritual” to write, because without them, “The space [to write] will not magically appear. If I don’t make the space to get the writing done, then the rest of it doesn’t work at all.”
- Why an internet connection can be so corrosive to one’s writing: “The instrument on which we are composing can, with one click, take you completely elsewhere. Before you even know what you have done. That is what is so insidious about it. With the flick of your index finger, you can be somewhere else. Most writers I know struggle with it.”
- Why “Waiting for inspiration is a surefire way to ensure work does not get done. I think inspiration is a fallacy. The number of times I have sat down feeling completely uninspired and then had a good day’s work probably equal the number of time when I sat down thinking “I’ve got it!” then had to undo everything that I did in that state. We are very often not the best judges of when we will do good work. A rhythm establishes a way of taking that question off the table.”
- Why she concludes: “It is a great gift, and it carries with it real risks, to live a creative life.”
Author Jon Acuff says this: “One of the cheapest, fastest ways to change your life is to read a book.” I strongly encourage you to read Dani’s book, Still Writing. Listen to the podcast. If you are wondering, “Gee Dan, how can I break through what is holding me back with my creative work,” I think you and your work will be changed by what she shares.
Samantha Hahn is a Brooklyn-based illustrator, creative director, and author. If you are someone who wants to pursue your creative vision, while also earning a living and raising a family, then you have to listen to what Samantha shares.
I was blown away by how she balanced so many practical aspects of developing her career and working within the marketplace, along with the ways that she stays inspired and nurtures her personal and creative needs.
When I researched her background in preparing for the interview, I realized why: growing up, her mother was a commercial artist, and her father worked in the music industry. It’s as if her childhood had been an apprenticeship at the crux of creativity and commerce. There is so much to learn from her experience!
As I went through the recording of our conversation, I kept coming back to these two quotes from Samantha — how they balance two critical sides of what it means to be a creative professional:
- “Nurturing the artist inside you is an essential part of the creative process.”
- “There is always this fear that you are standing on a precipice, and that any moment, you can completely fall off. I don’t want to be driven by fear, but to be a commercial artist, there does need to be that hustle attitude. If you don’t have a constant output of work, the industry is a moving freight train, and it is going to pass you by.”
Ooomph. Listening to Samantha is like taking a masterclass in developing your career and your artistic vision.
You can find Samantha in the following places:
samanthahahn.com
samanthahahncreative.com
Instagram
Pinterest
Her books:
- A Mother is a Story: A Celebration of Motherhood
- Stories for my Child: A Mother’s Memory Journal
- Well-Read Women: Portraits of Fiction’s Most Beloved Heroines
Note: this interview was recorded a little while back, so her kids are a bit older now, and she has been focusing more of her attention on her creative direction work in addition to illustration.
You can find Dan Blank at WeGrowMedia.com and @DanBlank on Twitter and Instagram.
How do you forge your own path to success with your creative work? Today, I talk to Elise Blaha Cripe, who tells us how she turned a blog into platform, a podcast, and a series of products that has helped her thrive. But more than that, I was blown away by her reflection on what she has built, after 10+ years: "I have felt more and more fulfilled by the work that I am doing.”
Elise Blaha Cripe is a crafter and founder of the Get to Work Book, a daily planner and goal-setting journal.
Among her many accomplishments:
- She has blogged for more than 12 years, with more than 3,000 posts.
- She has published more than 125 podcast episodes
- She has launched an unending list of craft projects
- She developed and successfully launched a new brand
In this time, she moved from being a person who shows you the behind-the-scenes of craft projects, to someone at the helm of a big standalone product line. It’s a powerful creative shift.
You can find Elise at the following places:
GetToWorkBook.com
elisejoy.com
Blog
Podcast
Instagram
Twitter
You can find more from Dan Blank at:
Twitter: @DanBlank
Instagram: @DanBlank
There was a moment in illustrator and cartoonist Jake Parker’s career, where this is what he, his wife and five children faced:
“There was a summer there where we had no money. We went through savings. We had some food storage we saved for when times get hard, and we were like, “Let’s break out the mac and cheese and beans.”
“I was really depressed, I took serious stock of everything. I said, “This is never going to happen.”
In this moment, he did something that I found astounding. He didn’t hide away, he didn’t diminish. Instead he did this:
“I doubled down on sharing online and hitting my social media hard. I really figured out where jobs were coming from, and about three months after, everything started falling into place.”
I can’t even express to you how excited I am to share my interview with Jake Parker. If you make creative work of any sort, and wonder, “How can I take this full-time?” you will learn so much from what Jake shares.
Jake is the perfect example of why it matters to:
- Truly devote yourself to improving your craft.
- Develop colleagues with other creative professionals in your field.
- Share your creative work publicly online, even before you think you are ready.
You can find Jake in the following places:
mrjakeparker.com
SVSlearn.com
You can find me, Dan Blank at http://wegrowmedia.com and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DanBlank
If you are a writer hoping to craft a career as an author, you are going to LOVE today’s story. I recently chatted with novelist Tammy Greenwood, who shared with me the harrowing journey to getting her 12th novel published.
She and I last spoke a couple years back, in an interview titled “The “Terrifying Crisis” of Finding the Second Act to Her Writing Career.” Since that time, Tammy released two new books. Today’s story takes us through the process of finding the third act to her writing career.
I encourage you to listen to our conversation here (on my blog or via iTunes), where she takes us step by step through this journey:
- How she wrote a new book that she loved, but which was very different from her previous work.
- How her publisher was not too enthused about it.
- How her agent was not too enthused about it.
- How she ventured out to find a new agent.
- Then to find a new publisher.
- Then to do another major revision of the work. She says: “Ultimately, I did 7 major revisions of this book overall. It was bonkers, I couldn’t believe it was finally done.”
You have to listen to the interview to see how all of this ends!
What I love about Tammy’s story is how it shows the reality of living the life of an author. She concludes:
“Risk is terrifying, but it is critical to finding success as an artist.”
Amongst all of this, we talk about how much she has been working full-time on top of the writing, teaching 7 courses. But she is in transition again, because being an author is a journey. She is scaling back her teaching, with this mission:
“I’m ready to be a writer first.”
You can find my first interview with Tammy from 2015 here: “The “Terrifying Crisis” of Finding the Second Act to Her Writing Career. An Interview with Novelist Tammy Greenwood.”
Tammy’s books on Amazon.
tgreenwood.com
Twitter: @tgwood505
You can find Dan Blank and other episodes at http://wegrowmedia.com
How do you earn a full-time living as an artist, while raising three kids, and navigating through a failed business venture? Today we find out.
Jay Alders is a professional artist, whose paintings, design work, and photography embodies the surf culture. But that alone is not what inspired me to interview him for the podcast.
I grew up with Jay. After high school, I lost touch with him, and by the time he re-emerged in my life, he was working full-time as an artist from his home studio, and a collaborator with many of creative people. He and his wife Chelsea (equally as awesome as Jay), seemed to have this strange duality:
1. They lived deeply creative lives, with a focus on appreciation, giving back, getting involved, and finding balance.
2. They were each incredibly hard workers, earning a living through pure grit and taking risks needed to create sustainability around their work.
In the past few years, I watched -- astounded -- as Jay and Chelsea had three kids back to back to back. In the blink of an eye, they went to "that cool couple that I know" to a family of five. Then, I was dumbfounded when Jay opened up a huge physical location on the Jersey shore -- a gallery and event space. I just couldn't believe how bold the vision was.
But that venture didn't make it. About a year after opening, he shut it down.
My interview today delves into a range of topics that I think are critical to anyone who wants to make a living with their creative work, while also honoring their creative process and lifestyle with those they love.
* Lessons from a failed business that actually brought him closer to his art and his family.
* How he works from his home studio, while parenting three kids, and supporting his wife who has her own business as well.
* How he finds the time (and energy) to create.
* Why he feels marketing and business are a welcome part of creative work.
* His path to going full-time as an artist.
* The value of taking care of yourself, even when you are swamped, so that you can take care of those who rely on you, and you creative work.
You can find Jay at: http://JayAlders.com
KJ Dell'Antonia made a huge shift in her career, giving up her career as a lawyer and New York City prosecutor to becoming a full-time writer. She became a columnist and contributing editor for the New York Times‘ Well Family page, amongst many other writing credentials. In this interview, we dig into the specific ways that she made the transition while also raising her family.
Colby Sharp is a teacher and advocate for the power of reading. In this interview, you will hear my incredulity Colby's amazing enthusiasm and his many collaborations. You can find Colby at @ColbySharp on Twitter and at https://sharpread.wordpress.com